A CHARITY that tries to stop young people falling into trouble said it urgently needs money otherwise it will fold.

Creative Kids, which is based in Boscombe, lost its funding last year and needs around £2,500 to keep going.

The charity is run by eight volunteers who try and introduce children and young people to the creative arts.

Cary Lightfoot, who runs the scheme, said: “We work in one of the most deprived areas in the UK and we are trying to look at the community of tomorrow.

“The young people build confidence and self-esteem and we believe everyone should have access to the arts.

“But without the money we won’t be able to carry on.”

Creative Kids has two arms. ‘Anarchy Arts’, tries to teach 14 to 18-year-olds events management.

The other arm runs free monthly workshops for vulnerable five to 12-year-olds.

The charity’s work was mainly funded by the Government’s Disadvantage Subsidy Fund.

The fund was given to poor families so they could afford after school activities. However the fund was cut 2011.

Martin Butcher from Bournemouth Council said: “The Fund has since, in effect, been replaced by the Pupil Premium fund which is allocated to schools directly from the government to support low income families in a range of activity.”

The next Creative Kids event, which is for five to 12-year-olds is on Saturday, May 19, in Boscombe’s Sovereign Centre, from 10am to 4pm.